St. Lawrence County, Northern Border Region eligible for grants aimed at economic improvement

Monday, June 10, 2013 - 6:34 am

New York’s Northern Border Region is eligible for substantial federal grants intended to alleviate economic distress and create jobs in local municipalities.

Local governments and not-for-profit organizations in St. Lawrence, Clinton, Franklin, Fulton, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, Oswego, Cayuga, Essex, Hamilton, Herkimer, Madison and Seneca counties are eligible to apply for these competitive grants, according to the state Department of State.

“The Northern Border Regional grants are a tremendous opportunity and can be a resource for organizations dedicated to the growth and economic empowerment of the Northern Border region of New York State,” said New York State Secretary of State Cesar A. Perales. “These grants are a great complement to the work Governor Cuomo is doing with the Regional Economic Development Councils, and will serve as another tool to help stimulate development and job creation in New York’s Northern Border Region.”

NYSDOS will accept and review applications and submit them to the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) for federal assistance and will also work closely with Local Development Districts in eligible areas to coordinate assistance to applicants.

To be eligible and considered for these grants, projects must meet the following criteria:

· Develop the transportation, water, sewer, energy, and telecommunications infrastructure of the region

· Assist the region in obtaining job skills and employment-related education, as well as entrepreneurship, technology and business development

· Provide basic health care and other public services for those areas that are severely economically distressed and underdeveloped

· Promote resource conservation, tourism, recreation, and preservation of open spaces in a manner consistent with economic development goals; and,

· Promote the development of renewable and alternative energy sources. Municipalities and not-for-profits are encouraged to apply for up to $200,000 in the federal funds, not to exceed 80% of the total project cost.

“I am very pleased with the work being completed by the recent NBRC grantees and the impact that the projects will have on the regional economy,” said Dierdre Scozzafava, Deputy Secretary of State for Local Government Services and former Gouverneur mayors and North Country assemblywoman. “We look forward to supporting new initiatives that will continue to strengthen our local economies and help reinvigorate our State.”

The Business Development Corporation for a Greater Massena received $123, 500 under the program for construction of a new rail spur from CSX Transportation's St. Lawrence Subdivision to serve an existing industrial park. This will aid a recent startup producer of alternative domestic fuels (wood pellets) and an established supplier of wood fiber to succeed in the national and global marketplace, while reducing dependence on overseas fuels.

Applications forms for NBRC grants, including additional information about the Northern Border Region and Local Development Districts, are available at www.dos.ny.gov/funding. Submissions must be postmarked by July 22 and mailed AND emailed to: New York Department of State, Attention Kyle Wilber, One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12231, (518) 473-3355, nbrc@dos.ny.gov.

The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) is a regional economic development partnership between federal, state, and local government.